CVE-2018-20033
📋 TL;DR
A memory corruption vulnerability in FlexNet Publisher's license manager (lmgrd) and vendor daemon allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by manipulating memory allocation/deallocation. This affects all systems running FlexNet Publisher version 11.16.1.0 or earlier. The vulnerability can force the vendor daemon to shut down, potentially disrupting license services.
💻 Affected Systems
- FlexNet Publisher
- Various applications using FlexNet licensing (including Oracle products)
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with SYSTEM/root privileges leading to complete system compromise, data theft, and lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Service disruption causing license management failures and potential denial of service for applications relying on FlexNet licensing.
If Mitigated
Limited to service disruption if proper network segmentation and access controls prevent exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
No public exploit has been demonstrated, but the vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication and has high severity.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 11.16.2.0 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://secuniaresearch.flexerasoftware.com/advisories/85979/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download FlexNet Publisher version 11.16.2.0 or later from Flexera. 2. Stop all lmgrd and vendor daemon processes. 3. Install the updated version. 4. Restart the license manager services.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allRestrict network access to FlexNet Publisher ports (typically 27000-27009) using firewalls.
Service Hardening
allRun lmgrd and vendor daemons with minimal privileges using service account restrictions.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit connections to FlexNet Publisher services only from trusted hosts.
- Monitor for unusual process creation or network connections from the lmgrd/vendor daemon processes.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check FlexNet Publisher version by running 'lmutil lmver' or examining the installed software version.Check Version:
lmutil lmverVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 11.16.2.0 or later using 'lmutil lmver' command.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected lmgrd or vendor daemon shutdowns
- Memory allocation errors in FlexNet logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual network connections to/from FlexNet Publisher ports (27000-27009)
- Traffic patterns indicating memory manipulation attempts
SIEM Query:
process_name:lmgrd AND (event_type:process_termination OR memory_violation)🔗 References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/109155
- https://secuniaresearch.flexerasoftware.com/advisories/85979/
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/109155
- https://secuniaresearch.flexerasoftware.com/advisories/85979/
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
